Button assembly

ABSTRACT

A SIMPLE BUTTON ASSEMBLY, MADE UP ESSENTIALLY OF A BUTTON AND A BUTTON HOLDER, IS DESIGNED FOR PERMANENT ATTACHMENT TO GARMENTS BY THE USE OF A SELF CONTAINED RAPIDLY DRYING MASTIC. THE BUTTON HOLDER IS A SINGLE UNIT HAVING A BASE AND A PIN, OR POINTED STEM, WHICH EXTENDS PERPENDICULARLY TO THE BASE, AND THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE BASE CURVES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STEM. THIS HOLDER IS PLACED ON THE FABRIC OF A GARMENT BY PUSHING THE SHARP POINT OF THE STEM THROUGH THE FABRIC AT A DESIRED LOCATION AND ITS CURVED PERIPHERY AIDS IN PREVENTING ITS ROTATION AS THE BASE IS PRESSED AGAINST THE FABRIC FIRMLY. THE BUTTON IS ALSO OF SINGLE UNIT CONSTRUCTION HAVING A BORE INTO WHICH THE STEM OF THE BUTTON HOLDER IS RECEIVED. THIS BORE CONTAINS A RAPIDLY DRYING MASTIC WHICH IS INSERTED AND SEALED OFF FROM THE EXTERIOR DURING MANUFACTURE OF THE BUTTON OR AT LEAST PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION OF THE BUTTON. THE BUTTON IS FITTED ONTO THE HOLDER BY INSERTING THE STEM OF THE HOLDER INTO THE BORE OF THE BUTTON. DURING THIS ASSEMBLY, THE STEM OF THE HOLDER BREAKS THE SEAL OVER THE MASTIC. WHEN THE SEAL IS BROKEN, THE MASTIC FLOWS AND THEN DRIES ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY, PERMANENTLY SEALING THE STEM OF THE HOLDER TO THE BORE OF THE BUTTON, THEREBY PERMANENTLY POSITIONING THE BUTTON RELATIVE TO THE FABRIC OF A GARMENT. MASTIC IS PRESENT IN A VOLUME WHICH, DUE TO ITS QUICK DRYING NATURE, WILL NOT FLOW BEYOND THE LOWER EDGE OF THE BORE OF THE BUTTON. THEREFORE, NO MASTIC TOUCHES THE FABRIC ITSELF. THIS BUTTON ASSEMBLY MAY BE ATTACHED TO FABRIC WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT, IN ONLY A FEW SECONDS.

United States Patent Office 3,715,781 Patented Feb. 13, 1973 U.S. Cl. 24-90 HA 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLGSURE A simple button assembly, made up essentially of a button and a button holder, is designed for permanent attachment to garments by the use of a self contained rapidly drying mastic. The button holder is a single unit having a base and a pin, or pointed stem, which extends perpendicularly to the base, and the outer periphery of the base curves in the direction of the stern. This holder is placed on the fabric of a garme-nt by pushing the sharp point of the stem through the fabric at a desired location and its curved periphery aids in preventing its rotation as the base is pressed against the fabric firmly. The button is also of single unit construction having a bore into which the stem of the button holder is received. This bore contains a rapidly drying mastic which is inserted and sealed olf from the exterior during manufacture of the button or at least prior to the installation of the button. The button is fitted onto the holder by inserting the stem of the holder into the bore of the button. During this assembly, the stem of the holder breaks the seal over the mastic. When the seal is broken, the mastic flows and then dries almost instantaneously, permanently sealing the stem of the holder to the bore of the button, thereby permanently positioning the button relative to the fabric of a garment. Mastic is present in a volume which, due to its `quick drying nature, will not flow beyond the lower edge of the bore of the button. Therefore, no mastic touches the fabric itself. This button assembly may be attached to fabric with very little effort, in only a few seconds.

BACKGROUND' GF THE lINVENTIO'N Button assemblies of two or more parts are needed, which aim wholly, or in part, to replace the conventional use of thread as a means for attaching a button to a garment. The use of thread to secure a button to a garment has a number of drawbacks. Among these are: some amount of expertise is necessary to properly sew on a button; thread is subject to wear and buttons are often lost as a result; and once lost, replacement of a button which matches others is often impossible, necessitating replacement of all buttons on a particular garment.

Button assemblies which aim to eliminate the need for use of thread have been known for some time. Among these are snap-on type assemblies which require considerable force to accomplish their assembly. They are often either bulky, unsightly in appearance, or do not t snugly to the garment. Assemblies have also been invented which use a combination of cement and thread in order to gain a more perma-nently attached button. These, however, do not circumvent the tedious process of sewing the button on with thread.

In at least one case, provision has been made for changing the ornamental design of the button, but none have provided for the simple attachment of the ornamental design to the face of the button by either a snap-in t or by use of adhesives, which provide the user with desirable options of style and. degree of permanence.

A desirable button device should be easily attached to a garment without the use of thread, properly fit the fabric, not loosen with use, not rotate to avoid wear on the fabric, be more permanently attached than by thread, be easier to attach to a garment than by the use of thread, and be provided with a means of conveniently changing its appearance if desired. Prior to this time no button means is believed to have been developed which accomplishes fully these practical advantages over the use of thread as a means for attaching buttons to garments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerning buttons and their securernent to garments, overcomes prior disadvantages and provides additional advantages as well in the art of providing buttons. These newI buttons may he made from many materials and the shape of the base of the button holder and the shape of the button are not restricted beyond providing the holder with a stem and curved periphery, and providing the button with a bore which accommodates the stem 0f the holder. To secure the button, the stem of the button holder is simply pressed through the fabric at the desired location, until the base is pressed rmly against the fabric so the upward curve of the periphery of the base will prevent rotation of the holder on the fabric. The button, which contains the mastic in its bore, sealed from the exterior, is then placed on the holder and as its bore slides dovvn over the stem, the stem punctures the mastic seal. The mastic then llows between the surfaces of the stem and the bore and, due to its extremely quick drying characteristic, rapidly attaches the button to the holder permanently. Mastic which has been tested and has proven to be impervious to wet and dry cleaning is available as lEastmans 910 and Loctite both readily available at retail stores.

Therefore with little elort and no particular skill beyond correct placement, being necessary, the button assembly is permanently fastened to a garment in a matter of seconds. Also the face of the button may be designed to accommodate a wide variety of ornamental caps, which may be snapped into place or positioned with the use of adhesive materials. This is a desirable characteristic of a permanent button, since only the cap need be removed and replaced to provide a change of appearance for the garment to which the button is attached. Additional features of this button assembly are: the mastic is provided in an amount which will not tlow to extend below the lower rim of the bore and therefore it will not come into contact with the fabric; the button is designed with a shape which permits ease of buttoning the garment; and the button has a neat appearance on the garment whether it is buttoned or unbuttoned.

In summary, objects of the invention are to provide a button assembly: which may be attached much more readily than by previous methods; and which may be attached permanently and easily in a matter of seconds, as it employs a quick drying mastic, as opposed to mechanical locking type of button, in order to permanently secure the button assembly to a garment; and which may employ many different designs of interchangeable ornamental face caps to change the button style and/or appearance.

DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of entire button device, in various stages of assembly, are illustrated in the accompanying drawings; wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded top perspective view of the button assembly, which illustrates the cap, button, and button holder, as viewed from top to bottom;

FIG. 2 represents an exploded 'bottom perspective view of the button assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional View of button and button holder, unassembled, indicating mastic in the bore of the 3 button enclosed in a capsule inserted into the bore, and also indicating a cap secured on the button with an adhesive arranged with respect to garment before nal assembly;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled button and button holder on a portion of a garment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a button and button holder about to be secured to a portion of a garment, indieating a mastic contained in the bore and covered by a seal and indicating a cap that is spring biased during mounting.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments, of the basic elements, shapes, and configurations of the button assembly are shown. There are also, other variations of size, shape, and materials which are all based on the illustrated designs.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the components of the button 10, just before assembly. The essential parts are the button holder 12 and the button 14. The button holder 12 is of one piece construction, having a circular shaped base 16 which has an upwardly curved periphery 18 as viewed in all figures. A stem 22 extends perpendicular from the base 16 at the approximate center 20 of the base i6. The stem 22 is tapered to a point at its upper portion 24. The button 14 has a spacer 30 at its bottom central area 32, to establish the space or clearance needed to neatly receive the fabric of the buttoned garment portions below the bottom surface 40 of the main portion of the button 14 and just above the garment fabric to which the button assembly is attached. Enclosed in the spacer 30 is a bore 34 whose depth is substantially equal to or shorter than the length 0f stern 22 of button holder 12. The inner diameter of bore 34 is slightly larger than the diameter of stern 22, wihch allows for effortless insertion of the stem 22 into the bore 34.

The upper surface 42 of button 14 may be either plain or for-med with an ornamental design. It also may be designed with a sunken area bordered by a ridge 36 into which a decorative cap 38 may be fitted either by using the ridge 36 to snap in a spring biased type cap or by aiiixing with an adhesive a cap which will easily t into the sunken volume.

FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional View of button holder 12 and button 14 shows the stern 22 of the holder 12 pierced through some fabric 50. The base 16 of holder 12 is moved flush against fabric S0. Also depicted in FIG. 3, is a capsule 52 located within the bore 34 of the button spacer 30. This capsule 52 contains a mastic 56 within its thin and easily puncturable surrounding wall like sealing material 54 such as a wax. When stem 22 punctures sealing material 54 then the mastic 56 flows between bore 34 and stem 22. The quick drying characteristics of mastic 56 prevent it from escaping from the confines of bore 34 while the permanent attachment of button 14 and button holder 12 is being accomplished. In this way the button may be attached to a garment or other material forms in a matter of seconds with only minimal effort and skill being required.

FIG. 4 depicts the button 10 fully assembled and indicates the space left between the tip of stem 24 and the closed end of the bore 34.

FIG. 5 is essentially identical to FIG. 3 showing, however minor changes in the ornamental cap and the sealing material and method. In FIG. 3, the mastic 56 is enclosed in a capsule 52 whose outer sealing material 54 is easily puncturable by the point 24 of stern 22. `In FIG. 5, mastic 56 has been inserted into the bore 34 and immediately covered by a sealing material S4. The first method of FIG. 3 allows the preformed capsule 52 to be inserted at any time while the second method of FIG. 5 requires insertion of the sealing material 54 and the mastic S6 preferably at the time of manufacture of button 1t).

The ornamental cap 58 of FIG. 5 differs from the adhesively held cap 38 shown in FIGS. l, 2, 3 and 4 for it is spring-biased into position where it will remain until intentionally replaced. Such replacement or substitution will permit a changeover in button appearances on garments. Also the basic buttons may be made available in a few basic colors yet many colors and styles of caps may be offered for sale.

I claim:

1. A button assembly ready for nonthreaded attachment to garment materials to be secured, as a self contained mastic is released for flow between portions of the button assembly, comprising:

(a) a button holder having a base with a continuous curved turned in edge to firmly grip garment materials and a central stem extending perpendicularly terminating in a penetrating point;

(b) a button having a depending central bore that accommodates the central stern of the button holder, and, on its opposite larger portion from this central bore serving as the button restriction body, a recessed edge receiving cavity to receive a snap in decorative insert cap;

(c) a snap in decorative insert cap for insertion into the recessed edge receiving cavity of the button; and

(d) a capsule comprising a fiowable mastic adhesive covered by a puncturable sealing material, said capsule bing positioned in the lower portion only of said depending central bore of the button to be punctured by the central `stem of the bottom holder upon fastening the button assembly to garment materials, the enclosed mastic to then ow into spaces between the central stern and central bore to thereby finally secure the button assembly components together, the mastic being impervious to Wet and dry cleaning.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,176,364 4/1965 Dritz 24204 2,690,879 10/ 1954 Snyder 85-23 2,118,561 5/1938 Kleeberg 24-90 E 369,310 9/ 1887 Alden 24-113 857,917 6/1907 Alz 24-105 2,092,341 9/1937 De Vries 85-66 2,983,006 5/1961 Schafer 24-90 2,983,975 5/1961 Hubbell 24-113 MP 3,430,449 3/1969 Novotny 85--63 FOREIGN PATENTS 896,367 5/ 1962 Great Britain 24-90 A 795,660 5/ 1958 Great Britain 24-90 HA BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 24--113, 9() E 

